Korean Bar Association to Hold Symposium on "Improvement and Expansion of Citizen Participation Trials"

2:00 p.m., April 30
Small Auditorium, National Assembly Library

The Korean Bar Association announced on April 29 that it will co-host a symposium with Assemblyman Kim Namgeun of the Democratic Party of Korea at 2:00 p.m. on April 30 in the small auditorium of the National Assembly Library, under the theme of "A Symposium for the Improvement and Expansion of Citizen Participation Trials."

Currently, trials are conducted in a structure that relies entirely on the judgment of professional judges. As a result, there have been concerns that verdicts may be rendered that are disconnected from the general perspective of the public. In particular, the recent rise in the rate of dismissals without substantive hearings, suspicions regarding preferential treatment for former and current judges, and the lack of effective judicial oversight mechanisms have all been discussed as major factors undermining public trust in the judicial system.

This symposium has been organized to: ▲ review the outcomes and limitations of citizen participation trials currently implemented in criminal cases; ▲ discuss how to improve and expand them at the prosecution and trial stages; and ▲ examine the need for and possible approaches to introducing such trials into other areas such as civil cases.

At the panel discussion, chaired by attorney Kim Daegyu, who is also the chairperson of the Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee, presentations will be made on ways to improve and expand the citizen participation trial system. First, attorney Kim Yujeong will deliver a presentation on "The Current Status and Improvement Measures of Citizen Participation Trials in the Criminal Field (Prosecution and Trial)." The presentation will address the low application rate, the broad scope of exclusion decisions, and the advisory effect of jury verdicts, highlighting the structural limitations and directions for improvement in the criminal field. Next, attorney Moon Jaesik will give a presentation on "The Need for and Approaches to Introducing Citizen Participation Trials in Civil Cases and Others." He will emphasize the necessity of reflecting public perspectives, especially in collective disputes, punitive damage cases, and highly specialized litigation with significant evidence disparity, in order to alleviate public distrust of civil trials, and will propose specific institutional reform measures to enhance the fairness of trials.

The subsequent panel discussion will feature attorney Shin Hyeonho, attorney Park Hokyun, professor Song Kimin, judge Kim Jaeho of Incheon Family Court, and chief prosecutor Jeong Myeongwon of Gyeongju Branch, Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office, who will share their views on the current operation and directions for improvement of the citizen participation trial system.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.